PTC Calls on Airlines to Set More Responsible Standards for In-Flight Entertainment

LOS ANGELES (September 28, 2007) – Today, the
Parents
Television Council™ voiced the strong
concerns of its members and the general public by asking the
airline industry to set and adhere to family-friendly guidelines
for in-flight entertainment. The PTC statement comes on the
heels of legislation that was introduced this week in the U.S.
House of Representatives, and the growing number of violent or
sexually charged in-flight programs and “R” or “PG-13” rated
movies that are being shown on monitors throughout airplane
cabins with no realistic way to shield children.

According to PTC President Tim Winter, “We are
asking the airline industry to take responsibility for the new
barrage of adult-oriented entertainment they are forcing on
captive audiences in the form of in-flight entertainment. It is
ridiculous that this issue has become so commonplace, so
outrageous, that our elected officials feel they have been left
with no choice but to intervene. Why can’t the airlines rectify
the problem voluntarily and nullify any need for legislation in
the first place?

“Air travelers don’t purchase tickets based on
the airline’s sexual or violent content on the in-flight
entertainment system; therefore, there is no market demand for
this type of material on airplanes with mixed audiences that
regularly include children. The problem could be solved quickly
and easily if the airlines would simply adopt media guidelines
that are consistent with their corporate values and the values
of their own customers.

“Personally, on separate United flights carrying
dozens of school-aged children, I’ve seen in-flight programming
with sexual situations and coarse language on NBC’s Las Vegas
and Desperate Housewives. PTC members have spoken out
about the airing of HBO's drama Rome that has been
described as sadistic. And the film Fracture, which
features a graphic depiction of Anthony Hopkins shooting his
wife in the face, seems to be an airline darling, having been
exhibited on United, Delta and Continental Airlines. On my
family’s summer vacation, the R-rated Hopkins film was beamed
across every monitor in the airplane cabin,” Winter continued.

“The historical airline standard that
nothing would be shown in-flight that
couldn't be safely viewed by all passengers – including the
children traveling on the plane – is clearly nonexistent. The
airline industry is showing great disrespect for passengers and
the public by making irresponsible entertainment choices.
We urge each airline to address this issue by setting in-flight
entertainment guidelines and making judicious programming
choices in the future,” Winter concluded.

The Parents Television Council™ (www.parentstv.org®)
is a non-partisan education organization advocating responsible entertainment.
It was founded in 1995 to ensure that children are not constantly assaulted by sex, violence
and profanity on television and in other media. This national
grassroots organization has more than 1.3 million members across the
United States, and works with television producers, broadcasters,
networks and sponsors in an effort to stem the flow of harmful and
negative messages targeted to children. The PTC also works with
elected and appointed government officials to enforce broadcast
decency standards. Most importantly, the PTC produces critical
research and publications documenting the dramatic increase in sex,
violence and profanity in entertainment. This information is
provided free of charge so parents can make informed viewing choices
for their own families.

Parents Television Council,
www.parentstv.org, PTC,
Clean Up TV Now, Because our children are watching, The
nation's most influential advocacy organization, Protecting
children against sex, violence and profanity in
entertainment, Parents Television Council Seal of Approval,
and Family Guide to Prime Time Television
are trademarks of the Parents Television Council.